Has anyone any experience of child seats in these rigs. We have a couple of new grandchildren a couple of months apart (eldist being 9 months now) and we are strugling to find a child seat for lap belt only seats. On the Ace answers I've seen an article on fitting 3-point belts but it doesn't go into enough detail for me about how to fit them. Anyone got a better explanation?
Thanks in advance.
Dave B
- (#8806) Dave B, 1 Jun 03 2:52
Hi Dave B
We have recently been looking into this ourselves, and have found that there are three main types of fittings. 3 point fittings only, Lap belt fitting only, or both.
Lap belt only fittings tend to be the most expensive, but if you go to your local Halfords, or toys R us, they will be able to advise you. If you choose one of the “Both” types, then you have the option of front facing or rear facing, depending on the size of the child. Its also worth noting that as the centre seats face both ways, virtually any type of seat is more secure facing backwards, secured by the lap belt. Its also handy if you turn the seat to face the door when you putting the child in, or taking them out of the seat.
- (#8807) dave Bright, 1 Jun 03 3:22
We looked around for the most cost efficient Baby seat for our townie and after much searching got one from Mothercare(approx £60, good solid construction adjustable position, 5 point integral harness and perfect fit in all rear seat positions).
Alot depends upon the age of the infant as below a certain age(6mths iirc) they should always be in a rear-facing seat.
I would suggest you pay Mothercare a visit, as a father of 6 and having gone through the process of purchasing various forms of child motor safety, they have by and large had the best, most cost efficient products and certain branches will even help you fit them correctly.
- (#8892) Tony Meese, 2 Jun 03 4:18
Tony is right Mothercare is the best place to visit as they will even test the seat in your vehicle to make sure it fits correctly
We curently have the Britax club class seats which fit in using the lap belts perfectly (using the alternative belt routing..... see seat manufacturers instruction book). Although we have the 3 point diagonals in our 92 new shape townie aswell, We are using the lapbelts still. This gives the option of turning the middle seats.
But make sure that the seat you choose is secure. Also make sure that no part of the buckle is strained over any part of the seat frame as this can cause the buckle to fracture in an impact (buckle crunching)
Don't be tempted to buy a second hand seat as you wont know weather it has been invoved in a previous accident.
Andy
- (#8893) Andrew Jebb, 3 Jun 03 7:29
Thanks guys, looks like a trip to mothercare is on the cards.
PS. One the point about 3-point belts, a mate of mine yesterday said Halfords do a conversion. So I might give them a ring, that said, aforementioned mate can be a bit (LOT) of a romancer.
Dave B
- (#9020) Dave. B, 7 Jun 03 4:46
Hi Dave i fitted rear seat belts into my townace. i bought the three point belts from halfords for the spacecruser i think they were about £30 each. I had to weld the top fixing nuts into the pillars 7/16 unf as for the bottom fixings we drilled holes and strengthened the ancorages with large repare washers both sides if you are stuck i can send you some photos but be quick as its going a.s.a.p. as we have bought a lucida last week.
- (#9021) John, 7 Jun 03 15:29